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Maternity registration: the procedures
Registration conditions vary greatly from one establishment to another. But one thing is certain: after taking the time to think about the maternity unit where you want to give birth, it should not be long before you start the formalities. Some sell out quickly.
When to register for the maternity ward?
Most maternity hospitals, whether public or private, advise you to register at the end of the 3rd month of pregnancy. Some can indeed very quickly display full in the desired niches.
How to choose maternity?
In France, whether public or private, maternity hospitals are not sectorized. This means that you can register for the one of your choice, even if obviously the distance between the establishment and your home is an important criterion to be taken into account for reasons of convenience. Other criteria also weigh in the balance:
Who do you want to be delivered by?
If it is necessarily by your gynecologist-obstetrician or by the liberal midwife who follows you, you must register in the maternity unit where they practice, knowing however that their presence can never be guaranteed 100% on the day you give birth. In the clinic, even if you are accompanied throughout labor by a midwife, a gynecologist will be called to take the baby out when he really points the tip of his nose. In the hospital, when everything is going well, the midwife manages everything from A to Z. The doctor is only called if it is necessary to use instruments to help the baby come out, to perform a cesarean …
How will the costs be covered?
At the hospital and in an approved clinic, delivery costs and accommodation costs, up to a limit of 12 days, are covered at 100%, on the basis and within the limit of the health insurance rates. They are reimbursed directly to the establishment by your health insurance fund. Fee overruns and the cost of television or single room are on the other hand in charge.
In private clinics, the prices charged are generally higher and you will have to pay the costs in advance. So find out well in advance and ask your complementary health care provider how it covers excess fees and costs for personal comfort.
Do you have specific wishes or needs?
Each maternity hospital has a very specific identity. Some are known to be very medical, others on the contrary to promote pain relieving techniques alternative to epidurals and so-called physiological birthing positions (not necessarily the feet in the stirrups). Some make you come home after 5 days, others after 3… Do not hesitate to call them for information and to play word of mouth. Also note that there is a label “Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative”. It guarantees, among other things, that the structures favor skin-to-skin contact, support breastfeeding as well as possible and generally respect as much as possible the needs and rhythms of babies and their parents. You will find the list of around thirty labeled establishments on amis-des-bebes.fr
Note: Depending on the progress of your pregnancy, your doctor or midwife can also advise you or even direct you to the establishment best suited to your situation. Indeed, if your pregnancy is considered to be at risk (multiple pregnancy, risk of premature childbirth, etc.), your doctor will direct you to a so-called type II or type III maternity hospital. They are equipped with a neonatal or neonatal intensive care unit and are, in the case of level III maternities, generally located in large hospitals.
Documents to collect to register for the maternity ward
When you first make contact, most often by telephone, you will be asked for your social security number as well as the date of the first day of your last period in order to be able to establish the expected date of your delivery.
On the day of registration, you will be asked to bring your vital card, your paper health insurance certificate (to download from www.ameli.fr), your health insurance card and all documents relating to your pregnancy ( ultrasounds, blood tests, etc.).
Registering for the maternity ward: the Parisian exception
In Paris, in the Paris region but also in some very large cities, it is recommended to register as soon as you become pregnant because they are quickly saturated.
Registering for the maternity ward, is it compulsory?
Registration in a maternity ward is not compulsory. In fact, around 1% of women decide to give birth at home. But for all the others, even if it is not an administrative obligation, it is nevertheless very strongly recommended to reserve your place in the establishment of your choice, whether public or private. You might as well limit sources of stress to a minimum and be sure that you will be welcomed in the best possible conditions on D-Day.